Samsung's latest premium TWS earbuds deliver improved design, enhanced noise cancellation, and better sound quality, though some premium features remain locked to the Samsung ecosystem.
Samsung continues to refine its true wireless earbuds lineup with the Galaxy Buds4 Pro, positioned as the premium offering in their three-tier structure (FE, vanilla, and Pro). At $250 / £220 / €250 / ₹23,000, these earbuds aim to deliver top-tier audio performance and active noise cancellation, but with some notable caveats for those outside the Samsung ecosystem.
Design Evolution
The Buds4 Pro represents a significant design improvement over the controversial Buds3 Pro. Samsung has moved away from the triangular stems and blade lights that many users found off-putting, opting instead for flat-sided stems with a brushed metal finish. The buds come in Black, White, and Pink Gold (exclusive to Samsung.com), offering a more understated aesthetic that pairs well with various outfits and devices.
The charging case has returned to a square shape, slightly larger than the Buds2 Pro case but significantly more pocket-friendly than the Buds3 Pro predecessor. Samsung also brought back the lay-flat design, making it much easier to insert and remove the buds without accidentally swapping left and right channels. The transparent top remains a practical design element, allowing users to verify both buds are in the case without opening it.
Enhanced Comfort and Controls
Comfort remains a strong point for the Buds4 Pro. The earbuds fit securely without putting excessive strain on the ears, making them suitable for extended listening sessions. The stem design, while requiring some adjustment for users coming from stem-less models like the Buds2, provides intuitive controls through pinch and swipe gestures.
The touch-sensitive stems include a small divot to help users locate the control area by feel. A single pinch plays or pauses music, double and triple pinches skip forward and backward through tracks, and swiping up or down adjusts volume. The customizable pinch-and-hold gesture defaults to noise cancellation control but can be configured for AI assistant access or Interpreter mode. New this year are motion gestures—nod to accept calls or shake your head to reject them—useful when your hands are occupied.
Audio Performance and Connectivity
Samsung has upgraded the audio hardware with a 20% larger woofer in the two-way speaker system (woofer + tweeter). The result is a balanced sound profile with enhanced bass and highs that most users will find pleasing, though audiophiles may prefer to adjust the 9-band equalizer or select from six presets.
Connectivity is where the Buds4 Pro show both strengths and limitations. They feature Bluetooth 6.1 but support a limited codec selection: Samsung's proprietary Seamless Codec (SSC), basic SBC and AAC, plus LC3. While SSC offers excellent audio quality for Galaxy phone users, those with non-Samsung devices should verify LC3 support for the best experience.
Multi-point connectivity is technically supported but restricted to Samsung phones and laptops only—a significant limitation for users with mixed-device ecosystems. Other connectivity features include Auracast support for localized broadcasts and 360 Audio for immersive soundscapes with compatible streaming services like Netflix and Disney+.
Active Noise Cancellation
Samsung emphasizes the enhanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in the Buds4 Pro. The system offers five adjustable levels through the companion app, with maximum settings effectively reducing tire and engine noise as well as nearby conversations. For those who want to stay aware of their surroundings, Ambient mode provides natural transparency, while Adaptive mode automatically adjusts between full ANC and transparency based on environment.
Intelligent features include automatic detection of human voice or sirens to enable Ambient mode and a voice call ambient mode that allows users to hear their own voice naturally during conversations.
Battery Life and App Experience
The Buds4 Pro deliver respectable battery performance with 61mAh batteries in each earbud and a 530mAh cell in the case. Samsung rates them for up to 6 hours of continuous playback with ANC enabled and up to 26 hours total with the case. Our testing confirmed these claims, with the buds lasting exactly 6 hours at maximum ANC before dropping below 10% charge. With ANC disabled, we achieved 8.5 hours of playback.
The charging case provides approximately 3.5 full charges, extending total listening time to 21 hours with ANC on or 30 hours with it off. Notably, the case supports Qi wireless charging and can even be topped off using a Samsung phone's reverse wireless charging feature.
The Galaxy Buds app offers comprehensive controls, though availability varies by platform. It's built into One UI for Samsung phones but requires separate installation on other Android devices and iOS. A Windows app provides similar functionality but with some limitations compared to the mobile version.
Ecosystem Considerations
The Buds4 Pro shine brightest for Samsung Galaxy users, particularly those with recent S or Z-series phones. Features like Super Wide Band Speech for enhanced call quality require specific Samsung devices, though reports suggest Samsung has broken compatibility on the S24 series. Multi-point connectivity and 360 Audio remain exclusive to the Samsung ecosystem, limiting the earbuds' appeal to users with mixed-device setups.
For non-Samsung users, the premium price becomes harder to justify given codec limitations and feature restrictions. While the Buds4 Pro deliver solid noise cancellation and sound quality (with LC3 support), the ecosystem lock-in prevents them from reaching their full potential outside of Samsung's devices.
Final Thoughts
The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro represent a solid evolution in the company's TWS lineup, with improved design, enhanced audio performance, and effective noise cancellation. For Galaxy phone users, especially those with high-end models, these earbuds offer a compelling premium experience. However, the ecosystem limitations and codec restrictions make them less attractive for users outside Samsung's ecosystem, where competitors may offer more open compatibility at similar price points.
With frequent sales opportunities, the Buds4 Pro can become more accessible, but potential buyers should carefully consider their device ecosystem before investing in these premium earbuds.
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